New TTC pilot project hopes to speed up boarding times at Bloor-Yonge Station

Today, a six-month pilot project begins at Bloor-Yonge Station on Line 1 to improve commuters’ service experiences.

According to the TTC, the pilot will work by speeding up passenger movement on and off trains, especially during busy rush hour periods. The pilot will also focus on accommodating customers with mobility devices, strollers, luggage, and the like.

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During the period, there will be highly visible decals on the floor of the station’s southbound platform, which are meant to align with the approximate spot that the doors of the train when stopped in the station.

The decals placed by the train doors that are closest to the elevator at the station’s north end will be blue. This colour change indicates the preferred boarding zone for passengers with mobility devices and the other aforementioned items during rush hour.

The TTC requests that these passengers have priority in boarding the subway.

Additionally, TTC subway operators will have markings on the platform and in the cab of the train in order to help them line up the train’s doors with the decals.

The TTC warns that despite this, there may be times the doors and decals don’t precisely line up. This is because this section of Line 1 is not yet on the Automatic Train Control signal system, which makes trains stop in the same position every time.

Further, the decals are meant to encourage those waiting to board to provide enough space for people exiting the train.

Toronto Transit Commission

A similar program was successfully tested at York University station last fall, the TTC says.

It’s also important to note that during busy travel-times, the southbound platform entrance closest to the elevators will be intermittently closed off. This will allow customers using the preferred accessible boarding zone to be accommodated on the next train safely, and will encourage others to spread out along the platform for faster unloading and boarding.

Once the train arrives in the station, TTC Supervisors will open the entrance to passengers.